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The Storm

Story Writing

Foundation

30 minutes

CSSE

Kent

FSCE

Independent

The Prompt

“Write a story titled "The Storm".”

Planning Hints

4 tips to help you plan your response

Think about where the storm happens — at sea, in a village, on a mountain?

Who is your main character and why are they caught in the storm?

What is the most dramatic moment? How does the character feel?

How does the story end — safely? With a twist? With a lesson learned?

Starter Sentences

Suggested opening lines to get you started

“The sky had turned a bruised shade of purple by the time I noticed.”

“No one had believed the weather forecast that morning.”

“It began with a whisper — a soft rustling of leaves that grew into a roar.”

Key Techniques to Demonstrate

Techniques the examiner will be looking for in your response

Annotated Model Answer

A high-quality example response with techniques highlighted

The sky had turned a bruised shade of purple by the time I noticed. I had been so absorbed in searching for shells along the shoreline that the world had shifted around me without warning. The wind, which had been nothing more than a playful breeze moments ago, now clawed at my jacket with icy fingers. I looked up. The horizon had vanished. Where the sea had once met the sky in a neat, silvery line, there was now only a churning wall of grey. My stomach lurched. "We need to go — now!" Dad's voice cut through the howling wind like a knife. He was already gathering our things, his movements quick and urgent, sand flying from the blanket as he shook it. I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his eyes kept darting towards the approaching darkness. The first drops hit my face like tiny stones. Within seconds, the rain was a curtain — thick, relentless, and so heavy I could barely see three steps ahead. We ran. My trainers slapped against the wet sand, each step heavier than the last, the beach suddenly feeling endless. Thunder cracked overhead, so close it seemed to split the sky in two, and I flinched, my heart hammering against my ribs. By the time we reached the car, we were drenched. I slumped into the back seat, chest heaving, rain streaming down my face. Through the blurred window, I watched the storm rage across the beach we had just fled — waves crashing, sand swirling, lightning illuminating the clouds in brilliant, terrifying flashes. It was the most frightening and the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

Hover or tap the highlighted phrases to see the technique and explanation

Techniques Used in This Answer

Sensory Detail

Personification

Short Sentences

Simile

Metaphor

Show Dont Tell (x2)

Contrast

Ready to Write?

Practice this prompt under timed conditions, just like the real exam. You have 30 minutes.

Planning Templates

Suitable for story writing

Story Mountain

The classic 5-part narrative structure. Perfect for story writing prompts where you need a clear beginning, middle, and end.

5 steps|3-5 minutes

4-Paragraph Plan (CSSE Style)

A focused structure for shorter writing tasks (15-20 minutes). Ideal for CSSE where you only write 2 compulsory paragraphs, but this plan gives you 4 strong ones if time allows.

4 steps|2-3 minutes